The Mai Tai is one of the most important and enduring drinks in the continuum of the American cocktail–it is an indelible piece of the ever-changing mosaic called “Americana.” That it instantly conjures images of tropical sunsets, surfboards, and other props fitting for the mis en scene of Beach Blanket Bingo is the reason it […]
Author Archives: Payman Bahmani
August 5, 2009
Happy Hour: The Americano
I am, I must admit, a Negroni man through and through. As far as cocktails go, the Negroni is probably the closest a libation comes to inducing what smokers refer to as the “munchies”–in other words it’s a monster of an aperitif. Yet despite its simple and to the point manner, in these dog days […]
July 29, 2009
Happy Hour: Cuba Libre
Our month long jaunt into the world of classic Cuban cocktails concludes this week with the most famous yet simplest of them all, the Cuba Libre. Named in honor of Cuba’s struggle for independence from Spain, “Cuba libre!” or “free Cuba!” was the battle cry of Cubans seeking freedom from Spanish rule, whose centuries-old grip […]
July 22, 2009
Happy Hour: The Mojito
Yes indeed, the Mojito is finally making its Happy Hour debut. You may have wondered what took so long–ok, so maybe you don’t ponder the decision-making process of Happy Hour columns in your spare time, but I’ll tell you anyway. I was waiting for the heat of the NYC summer to really unleash itself before […]
July 15, 2009
Happy Hour: Hotel Nacional
Last week I shared with you the history and recipe of one of the most refreshing cocktails on the planet (in my humble opinion), the Daiquiri. Last Sunday, as I was sitting out on my Brooklyn balcony (read fire escape) and throwing one back I thought to myself, the readers deserve more Daiquiri action! So […]
July 8, 2009
Happy Hour: The Daiquiri
It is difficult to think of a classic cocktail that has gone through as many unflattering permutations–to the point where nearly all resemblance to the original has vanished–as the Daiquiri. That the word Daiquiri instantly conjures images of umbrella-laden, too-sweet-for-consumption slushees served to retirees on cruise ships only punctuates this point, since this modern-day mutation […]
July 1, 2009
Happy Hour: Tommy Collins (aka Thyme Collins)
This past week has been quite a bittersweet one for me. On the bitter side, one of my favorite musicians passed away; my people in Iran are facing unimaginable cruelty in their fight to take back a dream stolen from them first in 1953 and again in 1979; and of least relative importance, my computer’s […]
June 24, 2009
Happy Hour: Gin & June Part 4, Sloe Gin
Previous:Gin & June Part 1, London Dry & Plymouth GinsGin & June Part 2, GeneverGin & June Part 3, Old Tom Gin For the fourth and final installment of Gin & June, I’ve decided that sloe is the way to goe. I am, of course, referring to sloe gin. Of all the gins discussed this […]
June 17, 2009
Happy Hour: Gin & June Part 3, Old Tom Gin
Previous:Gin & June Part 1, London Dry and Plymouth GinGin & June Part 2, Genever June’s journey into the world of gin continues this week as we explore another long-lost type of gin called Old Tom. Old Tom is a lightly sweetened gin that reached the height of its popularity in 18th and 19th century […]
June 10, 2009
Happy Hour: Gin & June Part 2, Genever
Previous: Gin & June Part 1, London Dry & Plymouth Gin Last week I declared that gin would be Happy Hour’s operative agent of inebriation for the month of June. In accordance with that declaration, part 2 of Gin & June is about a lesser known variety of gin called Genever, the forefather of modern-day […]